Preparing for Childbirth with Hypnosis. A Meeting with Manon, Hypnotherapist

Hello Manon! Who are you and how did you discover hypnosis?

I am a mom to a 2-year-old girl, Nine. I discovered hypnotherapy following a trapeze accident. My surgery and entire rehabilitation were done under hypnosis. The power of the unconscious mind over pain is incredible! I retrained over an 18-month program and opened my practice in the south of France.

How does one become a hypnotherapist for expectant parents?

Once my practice was up and running, I wanted to follow my true passion: perinatal care. I trained with Lise Bartoli. She created HypnoNatal, a specific method for preparing for pregnancy and childbirth. This method differs from its American counterpart, HypnoBirthing, which sets aside pain. I created my own method by taking the best of both and drawing inspiration from my own birth experience.

Who is perinatal hypnosis for?

Parents come seeking serenity — most are very scared and want to be reassured. Some mothers want a preparation method for a physiological birth, without anesthesia. In fact, hypnosis is suited to all types of childbirth, whether natural, with an epidural, or a cesarean section… My mission is to tell mothers "Yes, childbirth hurts, but you will get through it. It is a useful pain, the most useful of your entire life, and it is temporary".

What can hypnosis bring?

Hypnosis takes care of mental support, providing effective tools for coping with contractions and keys to better understanding your body. Knowledge is power! For example, if I am stressed, I will secrete adrenaline. My uterus will be less oxygenated and therefore I will struggle to contract and feel pain… On the contrary, if I bring calm or tenderness, my body will produce oxytocin, which will help me. When you know this and know how to apply it, you feel reassured.

How do your perinatal hypnosis sessions work?

I offer packs for expectant parents with videos to learn about hypnosis and physiology, audio sessions, and personal support. The audio sessions to prepare for childbirth last 30 minutes. For the maternity ward, there are two types of recordings: 5-minute audio sessions to listen to between contractions to re-enter your bubble, and 1-minute audio sessions focused on the contraction itself. Pain has three components: what I have already experienced as pain, what I project, and what is actually happening. If you remove a third of projection and a third of the past — the previous contraction — then only a third of actual pain remains! I have even received feedback from midwives who listened to the audio sessions in the delivery room and recommend them. Finally, I offer a WhatsApp group called Village where mothers come together to support one another.

Is hypnosis dangerous?

This myth does us a great disservice. Under hypnosis, no one is forced to do anything. We are far from the magic shows that ask us to imitate a chicken! In fact, hypnosis is a state we all experience every day. It resembles a daydream. You know that state just before falling asleep? A session that is very popular is when the father guides the mother through a beach visualization exercise. He takes her on a sensory journey. Where are we going, what do you feel, what do you hear… We move forward through our senses.

What advice do you give to expectant parents to better prepare for childbirth?

You need to prepare yourself for the possibility of not having an epidural. Then, close your ears to the horror stories about childbirth from friends. These stories plant terrible narratives in our unconscious minds. I advise parents to educate themselves and to involve the co-parent!

What is the role of the father/co-parent during childbirth?

The father or co-parent is a fully active participant. They can support the mother by knowing the different stages. They are no longer confined to waiting in a corner or fainting in the delivery room! I teach the co-parent how to perform hypnosis on their partner. This creates a whole new dimension between the two of them. You are completely open in a state of hypnosis. The other person does you good, you trust them. The benefits are also felt during the postpartum period. Communication flows more easily and the role of the father/co-parent is strengthened.

Do you also offer a postpartum pack?

The postpartum period is a very difficult time, and families need support! I offer a pack covering the following topics: baby signs, babywearing, baby sleep, food diversification, our identity (life as a couple, new parental identity), and better managing fatigue. Always with explanatory videos and hypnosis audio sessions.

We love following your tips and videos on Instagram!

Thank you! Covid, my pregnancy, and then my postpartum experience pushed me to launch an Instagram account and my online method to reach as many people as possible. On Instagram, I have a lot of fun and have built a real community that asks questions and needs answers.

Want to find out more? Discover Manon Naissance Magique.